Ten Places in Kashmir No One Should Miss
Posted on September 18, 2022 by Ghoomophiro
Kashmir has been called the paradise on Earth. And the title is very well-deserved given the pristine beauty of its natural surroundings and panoramic views from its mountains. One can stand anywhere outdoors in Kashmir and enjoy the mind-blowing views. Thus, the delights that Kashmir has to offer are not limited to a few places. Yet, even though Kashmir is beautiful everywhere, it is especially beautiful in some places. These places that manage to stand out even in a paradise should be a must-visit for everyone. And this article will discuss them.
Let us get started:
1. Dal Lake
The first and perhaps the most place in any list of must-see places in Kashmir is the glorious Dal Lake of Srinagar. Once the capital of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar sits on the banks of the Jhelum River that flows here in all its magnificence. It is wonderful to merely exist here but the biggest delight of Srinagar is in its world-famous Shikaras and houseboats at Dal Lake, which has been rightly nicknamed ‘the jewel of Kashmir’. Dal Lake! It is a lake so beautiful that one fails to believe in its existence even as one sees it. To anyone who has not experienced itself, its incredible beauty would just sound like the stuff of fantasy. The colorful shikaras stand on its shores like so many cherries on a picture-perfect cake.
2. Shalimar Garden and other Mughal Gardens
Srinagar is also home to the next must-see place in Kashmir – the legendary Mughal gardens. The world-renowned writer repeatedly sings praises of Kasmir including in his magnum opus Midnight’s Children. One of his lesser works is named after the famous Shalimar Bagh or Shalimar Gardens.
The word ‘Shalimar’ has several meanings depending on the source of the word which remains debatable – it may mean ‘Abode of lover’, ‘beautiful’, or ‘moonlight’. All these meanings hold to the Shalimar Gardens. The 400-year-old garden was built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan. Nicknames ‘crown of Srinagar’, overlooks the jewelry Dal Lake.
Shalimar is only one of the several Mughal gardens that make a part of the charm of Kashmir. Some other parks include Nishat Bagh and Chashm-E-Shahi Garden.
3. Gulmarg
The next-must-see place in Kashmir, Gulmarg is named by combining two words – ‘Gul’ means flower and ‘Marg’ means paths, thus Gulmarg means a path of a meadow of flowers and that is exactly what it is. Along with Dal Lake, the sight of these colorful flowers smiling with the majestic Himalayas in their backdrop might be exactly what seems to inspire so many artists and poets to write about the beauty of Kashmir.
Gulmarg’s beauty is not entirely floral though. No wildlife enthusiast can miss a chance to visit the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve. Some other attractions include Gondola rides, mountain biking opportunities, Alpather Lake, and Strawberry Valley which we discuss next.
4. Strawberry valley
The lush red color of strawberries seems to make them the sexist of all food items. Thus a walk in a valley full of strawberries might just be the perfect element of romance. That is what the strawberry of Gulmarg offers. You might also want to take a look at the best places to visit in Coimbatore here!
5. Dachigam National Park
Wildlife enthusiasts will love a chance of spotting the endangered Kashmir Stag in the next must-see place in Kashmir – Dachigam National Park. The area of the park has been preserved for over 110 years now, being declared a protected area since 1910. Black bears, musk deer, langurs, etc., not to mention several species of birds make the National Park a perfect spot for trekking, Jeep Safari, or a bird-watching tour.
4. Sonamarg
After the meadow of flowers, the next must-see place in Kashmir is Sonmarg or the meadow of gold. This meadow is filled fully with several trekking opportunities besides serving to offer a spectacular view of mountains and waterfalls.
5. Vaishno Devi Mandir
No list of must-see places in Kashmir will be complete without Vaishno Devi Mandir, one of the greatest and most glorious temples of Hinduism. This temple dedicated to Vaishno Devi, a form of mother-goddess Durga Mata, is a magnet for Hindu pilgrims around the year despite the 13-kilometer upward climb it requires to reach the temple. The walk to a temple can be a great hiking experience especially since the trek has several shops alongside it offering snacks and refreshments.
6. Amarnath
Bring the end of this list of must-see places in Kashmir is the famous Amarnath Shrine. A cave at a height of 3800 feet above the ground, this shrine is in a snow-clad area and remains open only for a few months of the year. The Shiva lingam in the cave, so the legend goes is created naturally of water drops that drop and freeze here in the form of the Lingham.
You might also want to take a dip in Amravati along the way and check the place of its confluence with Patjarni.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are several questions people ask that relate to the tourist attractions in Kashmir. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) on this subject:
Question: Where and what to shop in Kashmir?
Answer: Srinagar is the best place to go shopping in Kashmir. Some of the things to buy here include the iconic Kashmiri shawls and Kashmiri apples as well as fragrant local spices and artifacts.
Question: How to reach Kashmir?
Answer: Kashmir is well-connected to the rest of the country by air, rail, and road. Srinagar Airport connects it to all major cities of the country. Jammu Tawi Railway station is the nearest railway station from where one can use road transportation. National Highway 1 provides road connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them in the comments below.
The Bottom Line
One can easily wrap up the above discussion by concluding that Kashmir try is a paradise on earth and these places make the paradise picture-perfect.
